Cottage Home Care Services hosted its Back-to-School Giveback & Family Fun Day on Aug. 22, bringing together children and families from South Richmond Hill and surrounding Caribbean communities for an afternoon centered on giving, celebration and community connection.

While free backpacks and school supplies were among the event’s most tangible offerings, organizers said the larger goal was to create a positive experience for children and remind families that they are supported.

“This event was about showing our children that their community believes in them,” said Navin Shivpal, CEO of Cottage Home Care Services. “We wanted families to have the supplies they need for school, but we also wanted to create a day where children could simply have fun, feel celebrated and know that people are invested in their future.”

The event featured face painting, balloon twisting, a live bunny show, character appearances, Zumba, a self-defense demonstration, food, sweet treats, and music from a live DJ. Families also had an opportunity to connect with community organizations and local supporters.

The gathering carried particular significance in South Richmond Hill and Richmond Hill, where Guyanese and other Caribbean immigrants have built generations of families, businesses, and community institutions.

For many Caribbean families, the tradition of giving back is deeply connected to community life. The Cottage Home Care Services event reflected that spirit by bringing together businesses, families, and community supporters around a common purpose: helping children begin the school year with confidence.

Among the supporters were Don’s Coconut, Cinnabon Carvel Hollis, Drink Your Fantasy, The Luxe Library, NYPD Desi, and AnnieMohan.

But the organization’s back-to-school mission will not end in Queens.

Cottage Home Care Services is extending its outreach to Guyana, where it plans to distribute backpacks and school supplies to 200 children in underserved communities in the Berbice region.

The initiative creates a connection between the Caribbean diaspora in Queens and children thousands of miles away, demonstrating how community support can cross borders.

“Those backpacks and supplies will go to some of the most underserved communities in the Berbice area,” said Shivpal. “The children are waiting for them, and we know they will be very happy to receive them.”

This initiative represents a broader interpretation of community care. Although the agency provides home care services to seniors and families, its outreach is increasingly focused on supporting communities beyond its traditional role.

The back-to-school event also highlighted the growing importance of partnerships between local businesses and community organizations, reaching hundreds of families in the process and creating an experience that extends beyond the value of a backpack.

As families left the park, children carried their new school supplies while parents carried something equally meaningful, the reassurance that their community had shown up for them.